DRAFT

Office of Water

Climate Change Adaptation 

Implementation Plan

September 2013
Prepared by:

Office of Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

September 2013
Disclaimer

To the extent this document mentions or discusses statutory or regulatory authority, it does so 

for informational purposes only. This document does not substitute for those statutes or 

regulations, and readers should consult the statutes or regulations to learn what they require. 

Neither this document, nor any part of it, is itself a rule or a regulation. Thus, it cannot change 

or impose legally binding requirements on EPA, States, the public, or the regulated community. 

Further, any expressed intention, suggestion or recommendation does not impose any legally 

binding requirements on EPA, States, tribes, the public, or the regulated community. Agency 

decision makers remain free to exercise their discretion in choosing to implement the actions 

described in this Plan. Such implementation is contingent upon availability of resources and is 

subject to change. 
Preface

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to identifying and responding to 

the challenges that a changing climate poses to human health and the environment.

Scientific evidence demonstrates that the climate is changing at an increasingly rapid rate, 

outside the range to which society has adapted in the past. These changes can pose significant 

challenges to the EPA’s ability to fulfill its mission. The EPA must adapt to climate change if it is 

to continue fulfilling its statutory, regulatory and programmatic requirements. The Agency is 

therefore anticipating and planning for future changes in climate to ensure it continues to fulfill 

its mission of protecting human health and the environment even as the climate changes. 

In February 2013, the EPA released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan to the public for 

review and comment. The plan relies on peer-reviewed scientific information and expert 

judgment to identify vulnerabilities to EPA’s mission and goals from climate change. The plan 

also presents 10 priority actions that EPA will take to ensure that its programs, policies, rules, 

and operations will remain effective under future climatic conditions. The priority placed on 

mainstreaming climate adaptation within EPA complements efforts to encourage and 

mainstream adaptation planning across the entire federal government.

Following completion of the draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan, each EPA National 

Environmental Program Office, all 10 Regional Offices, and several National Support Offices 

developed a Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan to provide more detail on how it will 

carry out the work called for in the agency-wide plan. Each Implementation Plan articulates 

how the office will integrate climate adaptation into its planning and work in a manner 

consistent and compatible with its goals and objectives.

Taken together, the Implementation Plans demonstrate how the EPA will attain the 10 agencywide priorities presented in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan. A central element of all of 

EPA’s plans is to build and strengthen its adaptive capacity and work with its partners to build 

capacity in states, tribes, and local communities. EPA will empower its staff and partners by 

increasing their awareness of ways that climate change may affect their ability to implement 

effective programs, and by providing them with the necessary data, information, and tools to 

integrate climate adaptation into their work.

Each Program and Regional Office’s Implementation Plan contains an initial assessment of the 

implications of climate change for the organization’s goals and objectives. These “program 

vulnerability assessments” are living documents that will be updated as needed to account for 

new knowledge, data, and scientific evidence about the impacts of climate change on EPA’s 

mission. The plan then identifies specific priority actions that the office will take to begin 

addressing its vulnerabilities and mainstreaming climate change adaptation into its activities. 

Criteria for the selection of priorities are discussed. An emphasis is placed on protecting the 
most vulnerable people and places, on supporting the development of adaptive capacity in the 

tribes, and on identifying clear steps for ongoing collaboration with tribal governments.

Because EPA’s Programs and Regions and partners will be learning by experience as they 

mainstream climate adaptation planning into their activities, it will be essential to evaluate 

their efforts in order to understand how well different approaches work and how they can be 

improved. Each Implementation Plan therefore includes a discussion of how the organization 

will regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its adaptation efforts and make adjustments where 

necessary.

The set of Implementation Plans are a sign of EPA’s leadership and commitment to help build 

the nation’s adaptive capacity that is so vital to the goal of protecting human health and the 

environment. Working with its partners, the Agency will help promote a healthy and 

prosperous nation that is resilient to a changing climate.

Bob Perciasepe

Deputy Administrator

September 2013
Table of Contents

I) Introduction 1

II) Vulnerability of Water Resources to Climate Change 3

III) Priority Actions to Respond to Climate Change 10

IV) Office of Water Contribution to Meeting EPA 15

 Strategic Measures on Climate Change 

V) Legal and Enforcement Issues 15

VI) Training and Outreach 16

VII) Partnerships with Tribes 19

VIII) Vulnerable Populations and Places 21

IX) Evaluation and Cross-Office Pilot Projects 23

Appendices 27

1. Table of Vision Areas, Goals and Strategic Actions from National Water

Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change

2. Graphic Illustrating the Organizational Framework for Climate Change Work 

by the National Water Program 

3. National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup: Principal Members
Page intentionally left blank
Page 1

INTRODUCTION 

This Implementation Plan provides an overview of the opportunities available to the Office of 

Water within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to respond to the challenges that a 

changing climate poses for the successful operation of national programs to protect the quality 

of the national water resources and drinking water. 

This Plan is organized using the framework adopted by the EPA for each of its major national 

offices and regional offices. Key elements of the Plan address: 

 Vulnerability of water resources, including clean water and drinking water programs, 

to climate change;

 priority actions for water program response to climate change;

 Office of Water contribution to meeting EPA strategic measures on climate change;

 Legal and enforcement issues;

 Training and outreach for climate change adaptation;

 Partnerships with Tribes;

 Populations and places vulnerable to a changing climate; and

 Program evaluation and cross-Agency pilot projects.

This Plan draws on, and is intended to help implement, 

the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response 

to Climate Change published in December 2012. The 

2012 Strategy describes long-term goals for the 

management of sustainable water resources in light of 

climate change and is intended to be a roadmap to 

guide future programmatic planning and inform 

decision makers during the Agency’s annual planning 

process. The 2012 Strategy is available at 

http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange. Some 

initial steps by EPA national water programs and 

regional offices are described in the 2012 Highlights of 

Progress report (available at the website above). 

“Many of the programs and 

activities already underway 

throughout the National Water 

Program...are even more important 

to do in light of climate change. 

However, climate change poses 

such significant challenges to the 

nation’s water resources, that 

more transformative approaches 

will be necessary.” 

National Water Program 2012 

Strategy: Response to Climate Change; 

EPA; 2012; p. 1
Page 2

The 2012 Strategy identifies five long-term 

programmatic vision areas:

1. water infrastructure;

2. watersheds and wetlands;

3. coastal and ocean waters;

4. water quality; and

5. working with Tribes. 

Each of these programmatic vision areas is 

supported by more specific Goals and 

Strategic Actions. Additional goals and 

actions address “cross-cutting program 

support” topics. A table providing a brief 

summary of the 19 Goals and 53 Strategic Actions described in the 2012 Strategy is provided in 

Appendix 1. Climate change issues and actions in climate regions across the country are also 

identified. 

The National Water Program, including both EPA Headquarters offices and EPA Regional offices, 

has taken several steps to implement the new 2012 Strategy including:

 Developing this Implementation Plan as part of the Agency-wide work to prepare an EPA 

climate change adaptation implementation plan; 

 Preparing an internal workplan for 2013 describing specific implementation actions that 

EPA headquarters and Regional offices plan to implement during 2013;

 Committing to the continued operation of the State and Tribal Climate Change Council 

made up of representatives of States, water utilities, and other interested organizations 

to provide advice and guidance to EPA in addressing issues related to climate change 

and water; 

 Identifying future directions for the work on climate change issues in the National Water 

Program Guidance for FY 2014 and in the 2013 Implementation Plan; and 

 Committing to leadership of cooperative efforts with other organizations to address 

climate change and water issues including serving as co-chair of the Interagency Climate 

Change and Water Workgroup (made up of Federal agencies) and the Climate Change 

Workgroup of the Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) made up of 40 

stakeholder organizations and Federal agencies. 

 

A graphic illustrating the organizational framework for the climate change work by the National 

Water Program is provided in Appendix 2. 

Climate Change Vision:

The National Water Program’s overarching 

vision for responding to climate change is:

Despite the ongoing effects of climate change, 

the National Water Program intends to 

continue to achieve its mission to protect and 

restore our waters so that drinking water is 

safe; and aquatic ecosystems sustain fish, 

plants, and wildlife, as well as economic, 

recreational, and subsistence activities. 
Page 3

II. Vulnerability of Water Resources to Climate Change

The many impacts that a changing climate is likely to have on water resources, both

freshwater and coastal resources, include: 

1. Increases in water pollution problems as air and water warm; 

2. More extreme weather events; 

3. Changes to water availability (rain and snow level and distribution); 

4. Sea level rise/storm surge and waterbody boundary movement and 

displacement;

5. Collective impacts on coastal areas; and 

6. Indirect impacts resulting from changes in energy and fuel production. 

The nature and extent of these impacts is described in greater detail below together 

with the relationship of these impacts to clean water and drinking water program 

components. The association of climate change impacts on water with clean water and 

drinking water programs is illustrated using a chart of the full range of programs (see 

sample chart below). For each of the six climate change impacts identified above, the 

specific programs identified in the chart affected by the impacts are highlighted. This 

chart format illustrates both which programs are expected to be affected by the specific 

type of climate change impacts and which programs are not expected to be affected. 

Clean Water and Drinking Water Program Template

1) Increases in Water Pollution Problems as Air and Water Warm: 

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ Total 

Maximum Daily Loads 

(TMDLs)

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF

(State Revolving Funds)

Clean Water SRF

(State Revolving Funds)

Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans
Page 4

Warmer air temperatures will result in warmer 

water. Warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen 

making instances of low oxygen levels or “hypoxia” 

more likely (which is detrimental to the aquatic 

ecosystem); foster harmful algal blooms; and alter

the toxicity of some pollutants. For further details 

on these impacts see pages 41-51, 56, 81, 87, 96, 

122, 150, 151 in Karl et al., 2009.

As air and water warm, water resource managers 

will likely face significant challenges:

• increased pollutant concentrations and 

lower dissolved oxygen levels will result in 

higher incidences of impaired water quality; 

(Karl et al.; p. 46)

• increased growth of algae and microbes will affect drinking water quality; (Ibid; p. 46, 

96)

• some aquatic taxa will be replaced by other taxa better adapted to warmer water (i.e., 

cold water fish will be replaced by cool water fish) and this process will likely occur at an 

uneven pace disrupting aquatic system health and allowing non-native and/or invasive 

species to become established; (Ibid; p. 81, 87, 122)

• warmer air temperatures will increase demand for cooling and for power production, 

resulting in increased discharges of warm water from power plants; (Ibid; p. 49, 56)

• increased water use will put stress on water infrastructure and demands on the clean 

water and drinking water State Revolving Funds; and (Ibid; p. 48, 49)

• increased evapotranspiration rates resulting from temperature increases may result in 

water losses for which drinking water and wetlands managers will need to account

(Ibid; p. 49) 

Pollution Problems Related to Warmer Air and Water: Effects on Water Programs

(Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by air and water temperature increases) 

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ 

TMDLs

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans

Vulnerability Citations:

Descriptions of vulnerabilities 

provided in this section are drawn 

from: Global Climate Change 

Impacts in the United States,

Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, 

and Thomas C. Peterson, (eds.). 

Cambridge University Press, 2009 

(Karl et al 2009). Connections of 

climate impacts to water programs 

are the assessment of water 

program managers.
Page 5

2) Impacts of More Extreme Weather Events:

Heavier precipitation from tropical and inland storms will increase flood risk, expand 

flood hazard areas, increase the variability of stream flows (i.e., higher high flows and 

lower low flows) and increase the velocity of water during high flow periods, thereby 

increasing erosion. These changes will have adverse effects on water quality and 

aquatic ecosystem health. For example, increases in intense rainfall may result in more 

nutrients, pathogens, and toxins being washed into waterbodies. For further details on 

these impacts see pages 18, 25, 34-36, 41, 44, 88, 94, 95, 102 in Karl et al., 2009.

Water resource managers will face significant challenges as storm intensity increases:

• although there is some uncertainty with respect to climate models addressing storm 

intensity and frequency, emergency plans for drinking water and wastewater 

infrastructure need to recognize the possibility of both increased risk of high flow and 

high velocity events due to intense storms as well as potential low flow periods; (Ibid; 

p. 25, 34-36, 44)

• damage from intense storms may increase the demand for public infrastructure funding 

and may require re-prioritizing of infrastructure projects; (Ibid; p. 47)

• floodplains may expand along major rivers requiring relocation of some water 

infrastructure facilities and coordination with local planning efforts; (Ibid; p. 44) 

• in urban areas, stormwater collection and management systems may need to be 

redesigned to increase capacity; (Ibid; p. 47, 48)

• combined storm and sanitary sewer systems may need to be redesigned because an 

increase in storm event frequency and intensity can result in more combined sewer 

overflows causing increased pollutant and pathogen loading; (Ibid; p. 48, 94, 95) 

• changes in precipitation patterns and intensity may increase the demand for watershed 

management techniques that mitigate the impacts of intense storms and build 

resilience into water management through increased water retention (e.g., green roofs, 

smart growth); and (Ibid; p. 41, 44, 45)

• the management of wetlands for stormwater control purposes and to buffer the 

impacts of intense storms will be increasingly important. (Ibid; p. 88, 102) 

Extreme Weather: Effects on Water Programs

(Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by storm intensity)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ 

TMDLs

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans
Page 6

3) Changes to Water Availability (Rain and Snow Level and Distribution):

In some parts of the country, droughts, changing patterns of precipitation and 

snowmelt, and increased water loss due to evaporation as a result of warmer 

temperatures, will result in changes to the availability of water for drinking and for use 

for agriculture, industry, and energy production. In other areas, sea level rise, and salt 

water intrusion will have the same effect. Warmer air temperatures may also result in 

increased demands on water supplies and the water needs for agriculture, industry, and 

energy production are likely to increase. For further details on these impacts see pages 

44-46, 48, 82, 94, 95, 113, 124, 129 in Karl et al., 2009.

Changing precipitation patterns pose several challenges for water program managers:

• increased rainfall, especially more intense rainfall, will result in increased stormwater 

runoff and may make overflows of sanitary sewers and combined sewers more 

frequent, putting new demands on discharge permit and nonpoint pollution programs; 

(Ibid; p. 44, 45, 48, 94, 95) 

• increased storm water runoff will wash sediment and other contaminants into drinking 

water sources, requiring additional treatment; (Ibid; p. 44-46) 

• additional investments in water infrastructure may be needed to manage both 

decreases and increases in rainfall and these demands could increase demand for water 

financing generally, including from the State Revolving Funds; (Ibid; p. 44-46) 

• limited water availability and drought in some regions will require drinking water 

providers to reassess supply facility plans and consider alternative pricing, allocation, 

and water conservation options; (Ibid; p. 44, 48, 113, 129)

• in areas with less precipitation or reduced snowpack, demand for water may shift to 

underground aquifers and prompt water recycling and reuse, development of new 

reservoirs, or underground injection of treated water for storage; (Ibid; p. 44, 45, 124)

• in areas with less precipitation, reduced stream flow may make meeting water quality 

goals more challenging; and (Ibid; p. 44, 45, 46)

• increased incidence of wildfire as a result of higher temperatures and drought may 

increase soil erosion and sedimentation, increase water pollution, increase risk of 

flooding, and pose a threat to aquatic habitats and water infrastructure. (Ibid; p. 82)

Changes in Rainfall and Snowfall Levels/Distribution: Effects on Water Programs

(Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by rainfall and snowfall levels)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ 

TMDLs

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans
Page 7

4) Sea Level Rise/Storm Surge and Waterbody Boundary Movement and Displacement:

Rising sea levels will move ocean and estuarine shorelines by inundating lowlands, 

displacing wetlands, and altering the tidal range in rivers and bays. Storm surges 

resulting from more extreme weather events will increase the areas subject to periodic 

inundation. Changing water flow to lakes and streams, increased evaporation, and 

changed precipitation in some areas, will affect the extent of wetlands and lakes. Water 

levels in the Great Lakes are expected to fall. For further details on these impacts see 

pages 12, 25, 34, 47, 48, 84, 109, 114, 138, 152 in Karl et al., 2009.

Sea level rise, storm surges, and waterbody movement will affect a range of water programs 

and pose significant challenges for water program managers:

• emergency plans for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure need to account for

long-term projections for rising sea levels; (Ibid; p. 12, 25, 34, 47, 114)

• drinking water systems will need to consider relocating facilities or intakes as sea levels 

rise and salt water intrudes into freshwater aquifers used for drinking water supply; 

(Ibid; p. 47, 138)

• sewage treatment plants will need to consider relocation of some treatment facilities 

and discharge outfalls as a result of sea level rise; and (Ibid; p. 12, 109, 152)

• watershed-level planning will need to incorporate an integrated approach to coastal 

management in light of sea level rise including land use planning, building codes, land 

acquisition and easements, shoreline protection structures (e.g., seawalls and channels), 

beach nourishment, wetlands management, and underground injection to control salt 

water intrusion to fresh water supplies. (Ibid; p. 12, 49, 84, 114)

Sea Level Rise/Storm Surge: Effects on Water Programs

(Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by sea level rise)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ 

TMDLs

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans
Page 8

5) Collective Impacts on Coastal Areas: 

Coastal areas are likely to see multiple impacts associated with climate change 

including: sea level rise, increased damage from floods and storm surges, coastal 

erosion, changes in drinking water supplies, and increasing temperature and 

acidification of the oceans (e.g., decreases in pH, decreases in carbonate ion availability 

for calcifying organisms). These overlapping impacts make protecting water resources 

in coastal areas especially challenging. For further details on these impacts see pages 

17, 43, 47, 84, 85, 148, 151 in Karl et al., 2009.

Changes in ocean characteristics pose several challenges for water program managers 

including:

• watershed- level protection programs may need to be revised to account for changes in 

natural systems as salinity and pH levels change; (Ibid; p. 17, 43, 47, 151)

• climate change and ocean acidification may exacerbate existing stresses on coral reefs 

such that programs to protect coral reefs, including temperate and cold water corals, 

from land-based pollution and impacts may need to be reassessed to provide enhanced 

protection; and (Ibid; p. 84, 85, 148) 

• wetlands programs may need to be adjusted to account for changing salinity levels and 

impacts on wetlands health. (Ibid; p. 47, 84)

Changing Ocean Characteristics: Effects on Water Programs

(Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by changing ocean characteristics)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ 

TMDLs

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans
Page 9

6) Indirect Impacts Resulting from Changes in Energy and Fuel Production:

Possible responses to climate change include development of alternative methods of 

energy and fuel production that reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, as well as 

development of carbon sequestration technology. Alternative methods of both energy 

production and sequestration can have impacts on water resources including: increased 

water use and withdrawals, potential nonpoint pollution impacts of expanded 

agricultural production, increased water temperatures due to discharge of process 

cooling waters and reduced assimilative capacity of warmer waters, increased pollution 

concentration due to low flows, and effects of carbon sequestration on groundwater or 

ocean environments. For further details on these impacts see pages 48, 49, 56, 59, 60, 

74 in Karl et al., 2009.

Changing energy generation methods poses several challenges for water program managers 

including:

• increased water use and withdrawals will require expanded efforts to ensure water 

supply availability; (Ibid; p. 48, 49, 56)

• increased water supply demands and more variable water supplies will have effects on 

water resource management and reservoir operation; (Ibid; p. 48, 49, 59, 60)

• need for increased attention to discharge permit conditions to address increased 

temperature and concentration of pollutants due to low flows; (Ibid; p. 49, 56)

Energy Generation Shifts: Effects on Water Programs

(Shaded areas reflect programs most affected by energy generation shifts)

Drinking Water Standards Surface Water Standards Technology Based 

Standards 

Emergency Planning

Drinking Water Planning Clean Water Planning Water Monitoring Water Restoration/ 

TMDLs

Underground Injection 

Control Permits

Discharge Permits Storm Water Permits Wetlands Permits 

Source Water Protection Nonpoint Pollution 

Control 

Coastal Zone National Estuaries 

Program

Drinking Water SRF Clean Water SRF Ocean Protection Combined Sewer 

Overflow Plans
Page 10

III. Priority Actions

Recognizing the impacts that a changing climate is likely to have on water resources generally, 

and clean water and drinking water programs more specifically, the Office of Water identified 

criteria to consider in defining “priority actions” to respond to these impacts and make the 

water programs more “climate ready.” These criteria, and the “priority actions” defined based 

on the criteria, are described below. The Office of Water commitment to “mainstreaming” 

climate considerations into the full range of core clean water and drinking water programs is 

also described. Some specific core programs that, although designed for other purposes, have 

clear benefits in responding to a changing climate, are identified. 

In addition, EPA Regional offices play a central role in implementing clean water and drinking 

water programs and are especially important because they are in a position to tailor 

implementation actions to the varied climate change and water adaptation challenges that exist 

across the country. Additionally, EPA Regional offices are able to work closely with States, 

Tribes, and other stakeholders to advance these activities. The Office of Water and Regional 

office water programs have identified a set of nine “common” activities that water programs in 

each Regional office will attempt to implement beginning in 2013 to build their capability to 

support adaptation to climate change adaptation challenges related to water resources. These 

common climate change and water actions are described at the end of this section. 

Criteria to Identify Priority Actions

Since resources to implement climate change response actions are limited, it is 

important to consider the significance of the impacts and to allocate scarce resources to 

response actions that address the most pressing and critical threats. 

Some key criteria to consider when linking climate change impacts to potential response 

actions include: 

 Urgency: What is the timing of the impact? How urgent is it that it be addressed?

 Risk: How significant is the risk to public health, infrastructure, or aquatic 

ecosystems? 

 Geographic Scale: What is the geographic/demographic scale of the impact?

 Programmatic Scale: What is the scale of the programmatic impact? 

 Probability of Occurrence: What is the likelihood the impact will actually occur?
Page 11

Office of Water 2013 Priority Actions 

Based on consideration of the criteria identified above, the Office of Water identified ten 

“priority actions”. These actions were identified from a larger group of national program office 

and regional water program actions described in the 2013 Workplan which is an internal, 

working document supporting implementation of the 2012 Strategy. 

1. Publish Version 2.0 of the Climate Resiliency Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT)

for public use and support EPA Regions and States in encouraging water utilities to 

implement CREAT. 

2. Promote use of an Extreme Events Workshop Planner designed to provide everything a 

water sector utility needs to plan, customize, and conduct a workshop focused on 

planning for extreme events including flooding, drought, sea level rise and storm surges, 

wildfire, and reduced snowpack. 

3. In cooperation with EPA regional offices, expand the number of WaterSense partners

nationally and in each Region, with a goal of a 150 additional partners in 2013.

4. Recognize and encourage climate change consideration in the management of Clean 

Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Funds. 

5. Publish a Watershed Climate Change Adaptation Planning Workbook developed by the 

Climate Ready Estuary Program. 

6. Begin development of initial screening criteria to identify water and wastewater 

facilities on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts that may be at risk of inundation in the event 

of a storm surge comparable to Hurricane Sandy. 

7. Work with EPA Regional office counterparts to identify ways to better integrate climate 

change considerations into water quality management planning projects and 

processes and develop an initial report. 

8. Complete technical development and begin testing the Climate Assessment Tool (CAT) 

as a module for the Stormwater Calculator based on the Stormwater Management 

Model (SWMM). 

9. Draft a white paper providing information States and Tribes can use to protect aquatic 

life from negative effects associated with alteration of hydrologic conditions, including 

potential effects from climate change. 

10. Engage key stakeholders in climate change adaptation work by continuing to support 

the State and Tribal Climate Change Council that advises the National Water Program. 
Page 12

It is important to note that a key objective of the 2012 Strategy is to integrate climate change 

considerations and awareness into day-to-day management decisions for clean water and 

drinking water programs at national, Regional, State, Tribe, and local levels. The National 

Water program is facilitating this “mainstreaming” of climate change into core water programs 

by providing information and training to water program managers on climate change issues and 

prompting discussions of opportunities to recognize climate change in program management 

wherever possible. The Office of Water at EPA Headquarters is also working with EPA water 

programs in the ten EPA Regions to address climate change and water issues generally, as well 

as specific challenges that occur in each Region (see common EPA Regional climate change 

actions below).

In addition to the specific “priority actions” identified above, the National Water Program 

conducts a range of programs that, although not designed to directly or uniquely address the 

impacts of a changing climate, make important contributions to making water resources more 

resilient to the impacts of a changing climate. Some examples of climate change-supporting 

programs include: 

• Wetlands programs that help protect and restore wetlands that serve as sponges to 

retain water from more intense storm events, increased precipitation, and more rapid 

snowmelt;

• Stormwater permit programs that reduce pollution levels and the rate of runoff of 

rainfall in developed areas with large percentages of impervious surfaces and 

programs that promote improved stormwater management through implementation 

of “green infrastructure” practices;

• Healthy watershed programs that help maintain the quality of healthy watersheds and 

supportive habitat corridor networks across the country that provide resilience to 

climate change impacts; 

• The National Estuary Program supports development and implementation of 

Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans (CCMPs) in 28 estuaries around 

the country and had supported the development of a range of projects to address 

climate change challenges faced in these estuaries. 

 

• Infrastructure management programs to expand the use of management practices that 

make water and wastewater treatment facilities more sustainable, including practices 

that improve resilience to climate change; and 

• Monitoring programs, such as the National Coastal Condition Report, that can provide 

benchmarks of progress in addressing key climate change impacts. 
Page 13

Common Climate Change Actions for Regional Water Programs

Each Regional water program will attempt to carry out the following common climate change 

related activities in 2013: 

1. Participate in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup: Maintain 

current participation in the National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup, 

including identifying a single point of contact for the Regional water program. 

2. Support the EPA Office of Water’s Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan: 

Help to develop and implement the EPA-wide Office of Water’s Climate Change 

Adaptation Implementation Plan and coordinate between the National Water Program 

2012 Strategy and the EPA regional adaptation implementation plans. 

3. Build Internal Climate Change Communications: After the completion of the EPA 

Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan, draw on materials developed by the 

Office of Water to provide training for Regional water program staff on the challenges 

that climate change poses for water programs and familiarize them with the National 

Water Program 2012 Strategy and Regional climate adaptation plans through a variety 

of means such as “all hands” meetings, webinars, seminars, and dissemination of the 

plans. 

4. Build External Climate Change Communications: Support national program efforts to 

inform and educate water program managers in the public and private sectors on 

climate change and water issues through a variety of means such as identifying key 

stakeholders and expanding professional networks, improving educational outreach 

efforts on National and Regional EPA climate change websites and in other media, and 

disseminating clear and credible messaging on climate change science and impacts. 

5. Address Climate Change in Meetings with States and Tribes: In program meetings with 

States and Tribes in 2013, include discussion of ongoing Agency and Regional climate 

change adaptation planning, the new National Water Program 2012 Strategy, and 

climate change activities related to State water programs as appropriate. 

6. Support Coordination Among Federal Agency Regional Offices: Coordinate with the 

regional offices of other Federal agencies on climate change adaptation matters and 

participate, where appropriate, with related interagency cooperative and collaborative 

efforts to address climate change challenges on a regional scale. 

7. Promote Use of Tools from the Climate Ready Water Utilities (CRWU) and Climate 

Ready Estuaries (CRE) Programs: Work with municipal and private water utilities to 

promote use of the new Climate Ready Resilience and Awareness (CREAT) Version 2.0 to 

recognize and respond to climate change risks, and promote with National Estuary 
Page 14

Program partners the use of the new Climate Ready Estuaries workbook to develop local 

climate resilience plans.

8. Develop Regional WaterSense Partners: Work with States, Tribes, municipalities, nonprofit organizations and businesses to promote the WaterSense Program in the region. 

9. Work with State Revolving Loan Fund Programs to recognize climate change impacts.
Page 15

IV. Office of Water Contribution to Meeting EPA 

Strategic Measures on Climate Change 

The EPA Strategic Plan identifies several objectives for strengthening the Agency response to a 

changing climate by 2015. The Office of Water is committed to contributing to the Agency 

work to meet these objectives. The Agency objective and the Office of Water contribution to 

meeting the objective are identified below. Implementation plans from other offices within 

EPA address additional steps to be taken to meet these objectives.

• Save energy and conserve resources: The Office of Water will support this objective 

through measures to reduce energy use at wastewater treatment plants and through 

the WaterSense program.

• Integrate climate change science into five major models and/or decision support tools: 

The Office of Water will support this objective through publication of Version 2.0 of the 

Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT) for water utilities.

• Integrate climate change science or trend information into five major rulemaking 

processes: The Office of Water National Water Program will support this objective 

through the development of a water program regulation prior to 2015. The specific 

regulation is not yet determined.

• Integrate climate change considerations into five major grant, loan, or technical 

assistance programs: The Office of Water will support meeting this objective through 

integrating climate change in the National Estuary Program grant program. 

The Office of Water will monitor progress in supporting these Agency objectives annually and 

will adjust programs and activities as needed to assure that the water program contributions to 

meeting the goals are achieved by the 2015 due date. 

V. Legal and Enforcement Issues 

The Office of Water works closely with the Office of General Counsel and matters related to 

climate change and water resources and will continue this working relationship in the future. 

To date, water program actions to respond to a changing climate have not faced significant 

legal issues. 

As noted in Section IX of this Plan, the Office of Water is interested in initiating a pilot project 

for collaboration with the Office of Enforcement and Compliance and Assurance addressing 

inclusion of climate change considerations in compliance and enforcement activities. 
Page 16

VI. Training and Outreach 

The Office of Water will continue and expand current work to provide training to water 

program managers on climate change issues and to ensure strong communication and 

coordination among EPA water program offices, Regional Offices, other Federal agencies, and 

stakeholders. These training and outreach materials are addressed in Goal 17 of the 2012 

Strategy. 

Training

The Office of Water will continue to work to provide training on climate change impacts on 

water resources, and especially on the impacts on clean water and drinking water programs. 

Some key actions the Office of Water will take include:

 Update the Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation training module for EPA water 

program staff to include updated information about climate change response actions;

 Continue the monthly Climate Change and Water Seminar series, which invites experts 

in climate change and water issues to speak to EPA Headquarters and Regional staff; 

 Continue to support the Climate Change Module at the Water Quality Standards 

Academy that presents an overview of climate change impacts on water resources and 

climate change vulnerability considerations for managers and review climate training 

related to the Watershed Academy;

 Participate in the Agency workgroup tasked with developing an Agency-wide climate 

change adaptation training module for EPA staff; 

 Work with Regions to develop a model PowerPoint presentation that EPA Regional 

water programs can use to describe the climate change and water issues generally, with 

a focus on the implementation of the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response 

to Climate Change; and

 Sponsor an all-hands meeting after the completion of the EPA Climate Change 

Adaptation Implementation Plan to generally familiarize all staff with the challenges that 

climate change poses and to describe the new Agency Implementation Plan with special 

emphasis on the 2012 Strategy for the National Water Program and this water program 

2013 Implementation Plan. 
Page 17

Outreach

The Office of Water will support several activities to cooperate with other EPA offices, Federal 

agencies and other organizations interested in addressing the impacts of a changing climate on 

water resources including:

 Continue to support the Office of Water Climate Change Workgroup and provide 

oversight and management of National Water Program climate change actions,

including implementation of the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to 

Climate Change (this Workgroup includes staff from national program offices, other EPA 

offices, EPA regional offices, and Great Waterbody offices); 

 Continue to support the State and Tribal Climate Change Council that advises the 

National Water Program on a full range of climate change adaptation issues, including 

implementation of the National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate 

Change;

 Continue to serve as co-chair of the Interagency Water Resources Workgroup that 

supports the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force and provide staff 

support to this Workgroup that oversees the implementation of the National Action 

Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate;

 Serve as the 2013 Federal agency co-chair of the Climate Change Workgroup of the 

Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) in support of the non-Federal cochair from the Water Environment Federation; 

 Continue to manage the EPA climate change and water website providing information 

and materials on a range of climate change and water topics;

 Continue to publish the EPA Climate Change and Water News listserv and consider 

options to expand the number of listserv addresses (now serving approximately 2,500

email addresses) with a goal of doubling the number of email addresses in 2013; 

 Work with EPA Regions to support efforts to link and coordinate Office of Water 

climate change website content with climate change content provided on Regional 

water program websites; 

 Work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider becoming a partner with the 

Corps in the operation and management of the Water Resources Toolbox website

which provides a one stop website of information on a range of water resources 

management issues, including climate change; 
Page 18

 Work with EPA Region 10, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the 

State of Washington, and other interested agencies and Tribes on issues related to 

assessing water quality criteria relevant to ocean and coastal acidification (e.g., 

aragonite saturation state (calcium carbonate availability for calcareous organisms’ shell 

building); and

 Work with the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate progress in understanding and 

developing innovative technologies and processes that lead to improved management 

of both water resources and energy production including topics such as:

o Integrated water resource management; 

o Water quality; 

o Use and reuse of wastewater for power generation;

o Emergency response and recovery; and

o thermoelectric generation.
Page 19

VII. Partnerships with Tribes 

EPA values its unique government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes in planning 

and decision making. Supporting the development of capacity to adapt to climate change 

among tribes is a priority for the EPA. Tribes are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of 

climate change due to the integral nature of the environment within their traditional lifeways 

and culture. There is a strong need to develop adaptation strategies that promote sustainability 

and reduce the impact of climate change on Indian tribes.

EPA engaged tribes through a formal consultation process in the development of the Agency’s 

Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Tribes identified some of the most pressing issues as erosion, 

temperature change, drought and various changes in access to and quality of water. Tribes 

recommended a number of tools and strategies to address these issues, including improving 

access to data and information; supporting baseline research to better track the effects of 

climate change; developing community-level education and awareness materials; and providing 

financial and technical support. These collaborative efforts will benefit from the expertise 

provide by our tribal partners and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) they possess. TEK 

is a valuable body of knowledge in assessing the current and future impacts of climate change 

and has been used by tribes for millennia as a valuable tool to adapt to changing surroundings. 

The Office of Water has a strong partnership with Tribes and works closely with Tribes in the 

implementation of clean water and drinking water programs. This partnership extends to work 

on issues relating to climate change and water. 

The 2012 Strategy addresses cooperation with Tribes on climate change and water matters in 

Goals 15 and 16. Some key objectives of these goals include: 

 Strategic Action 47: Through formal consultation and other mechanisms, incorporate 

climate change as a key consideration in the revised National Water Program Tribal 

Strategy and subsequent implementation of Clean Water Act (CWA), Safe Drinking 

Water Act (SDWA), and other core programs 

 Strategic Action 48: Incorporate adaptation into tribal funding mechanisms, and 

collaborate with other EPA and federal funding programs to support sustainability and 

adaptation in tribal communities

 Strategic Action 49: Collaborate to explore and develop climate change science, 

information, and tools for Tribes, and incorporate local knowledge

 Strategic Action 50: Collaborate to develop communication materials relevant for tribal 

uses and tribal audiences 
Page 20

Some key actions that the Office of Water will implement to advance the goal of supporting 

Tribes in responding to the water related impacts of climate change include: 

 Continue to support the State and Tribal Climate Change Council as a vehicle for 

sharing information and hearing the views of Tribes on climate change issues; 

 Include a presentation addressing Tribal climate change recommendations at the next 

Office of Water Tribal water quality conference, planned for 2015;

 Identify climate change activities as a priority in the new National Water Program 

Tribal Strategy, which will be developed during 2013;

 Continue to support sustainability and adaptation in tribal communities in coordination 

with the EPA-Tribal Science Council (TSC), as the TSC implements its tribal science 

priorities for Climate Change and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in 2013 (e.g 

the Office of Water will develop and incorporate water-resource specific information 

into materials, presentations, and training developed as part of, or follow-up to, an 

upcoming tribal Traditional Ecological Knowledge and climate change adaptation 

workshop in 2013); 

 Collaborate with the EPA American Indian Environmental Office (AIEO) to incorporate 

climate change adaptation into the tribal General Assistance Program (GAP) grant 

guidance;

 Work with Tribes to identify the most pressing and significant impacts that a changing 

climate poses for tribal management of water resources and support actions to respond 

to climate change related vulnerabilities; and 

Partner with tribal stakeholders to develop and pilot the Tribal-Focused Environmental 

Risk Screening Tool (Tribal-FERST), a web-based geospatial and information access tool 

to support tribal environmental decision making that provides access to relevant 

science and information that can be used to help identify, prioritize, and manage 

environmental and public health issues. 
Page 21

VIII. Vulnerable Populations and Places 

Certain parts of the population, such as children, the elderly, minorities, the poor, persons with 

underlying medical conditions and disabilities, those with limited access to information, and 

tribal and indigenous populations, can be especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate 

change. Also, certain geographic locations and communities are particularly vulnerable, such as 

those located in low-lying coastal areas. One of the principles guiding EPA’s efforts to integrate 

climate adaptation into its programs, policies and rules calls for its adaptation plans to prioritize 

helping people, places and infrastructure that are most vulnerable to climate impacts and to be 

designed and implemented with meaningful involvement from all parts of society. 

The Office of Water is giving special attention to populations and places that are most 

vulnerable to the water related impacts of a changing climate. As noted above, the Office of 

Water is working closely with Tribes to respond to climate change impacts on water resources. 

In the case of vulnerable places, the Office of Water is supporting national program initiatives 

that address places that are especially vulnerable to a changing climate. For example, the 

Climate Ready Estuaries program advances climate adaptation work in many of the 28 estuaries 

that participate in the National Estuary Program. 

In addition, the Office of Water will work with EPA regional offices to support climate change 

adaptation work by Great Waterbody offices (e.g., the Chesapeake Bay Program Office and the 

Great Lakes National Program Office) as well as other large ecosystem programs. Some 

examples of actions planned for 2013 in this area are provided below. 

 The Chesapeake Bay Program Office will develop a research coordination and support 

program to address climate change issues in the Chesapeake Bay.

 The Great Lakes National Program Office will initiate the Climate Change Impacts 

Annex Subcommittee to the newly formed Great Lakes Executive Committee under the 

Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with Canada and develop and implement a binational workplan to undertake activities over the next three years to fulfill the 

commitments in the annex. 

 EPA Region 10 will address climate change in grants to support protection and 

restoration of Puget Sound consistent with the Puget Sound Action Agenda including: 

o conduct an erosion survey to evaluate sea level rise threat in San Juan County; 

o map habitat and infrastructure vulnerability in Puget Sound and restoration 

potential for reducing vulnerability; 

o Tribes and counties will incorporate climate change in their plans and/or 

analyses. 
Page 22

Puget Sound Grant partners include: Puget Sound Partnership, Friends of the San Juans, 

The Nature Conservancy, Snohomish County, Washington Department of Ecology, 

Samish Indian Nation, Swinomish Tribe, Nooksack Tribe, Suquamish Tribe, and Port

Gamble Indian Commission.

 EPA Regions 1 and 2 will issue a draft of the revised Lake Champlain TMDL, including an 

analysis of potential effects of climate change on phosphorous loads to the Lake, in 

Fiscal Year 2014.

 EPA Regions 2 and 3 will support the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary efforts 

toward climate change adaption planning by expanding upon the work of the climate 

change adaptation plan of 2010 including:

o creating a living shorelines process document that combines their knowledge of 

the Delaware Estuary Living Shorelines Initiative planning, installation, and 

outreach processes and best practices; and 

o continue recruiting communities to the Weathering Change program in which 

the agencies work with the community to help them understand the weatherrelated changes that are beginning to happen in their community. 

 EPA Regions 1 and 2 are supporting the Long Island Sound program in implementing the 

“Sentinels of Climate Change: Coastal Indicators of Wildlife and Ecosystem Change”

project in Long Island Sound. The project will address several of the key climate change 

sentinels identified by the Sentinel Monitoring program, including the responses of 

critical and sensitive habitats, such as salt marsh and tidal flats, and how changes in 

these ecosystems impact the population and behavior patterns of key bird species 

inhabiting them. 

 EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4 are working with other federal agencies (e.g., the U.S. 

Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 

Army Corps of Engineers) and States to manage development of off-shore renewable 

energy facilities, including identify areas best suited for wind energy production. EPA 

will have significant National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibilities once 

projects are proposed and, to a lesser degree, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act (CAA) 

permitting responsibilities. 
Page 23

IX. Evaluation and Cross-Office Pilot Projects 

Work is underway within the Office of Water to develop strong program evaluation practices 

for assessing progress in responding to climate change impacts and to develop effective 

collaborations with other EPA national program offices are described below. 

Evaluation of Progress

The National Water Program initiated a new process in 2012 to track progress in implementing 

climate change response programs based on assessing the stage or phase of development of 

efforts to implement each of the 19 major Goals identified in the 2012 Strategy. Progress 

toward each of the 19 Goals was assessed by program staff in the context of one of seven 

phases of development. The seven developmental phases are: 

1. Initiation; conduct a screening assessment of potential implications of climate 

change to mission, programs, and operations;

 

2. Assessment; conduct a broader review to understand how climate change affects 

the resources in question; 

3. Response Development; identify changes necessary to continue to reach program 

mission and goals and develop initial action plan;

4. Initial Implementation; initiate actions in selected priority programs or projects

5. Robust Implementation; programs are underway and lessons learned are being 

applied to additional programs and projects; 

6. Mainstreaming; climate is an embedded, component of the program; and 

7. Monitor Outcomes and Adaptive Management; continue to monitor and integrate 

performance, new information, and lessons learned into programs and plans. 

In the 2012 Highlights of Progress (see http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange) the Office of 

Water identified the status of work on each of the Goals in the 2012 Strategy (see Appendix 1)

as of December 2012. This 2012 baseline assessment has a total numeric value of 43 out of a 

total possible score of 133 (i.e., 19 Goals times a score of 7 for each action = 133). This 

combined score indicates that many actions are in the early stages of implementation. 

Future annual progress reports will identify the cumulative progress toward full 

implementation of the 2012 Strategy in both narrative and numeric terms. 
Page 24

In the future, the Office of Water will work to develop metrics that assess the readiness of clean 

water programs in the face of a changing climate and the contribution that water programs 

make toward reducing releases of greenhouse gases (e.g., reducing water use which reduces 

energy use, or generating energy from wastewater treatment to lower carbon footprints of 

these facilities). 

Cross-Organization Projects

EPA’s Office of Water is engaged in two major cross-organization projects related to climate 

change adaptation:

 Collaboration on National Estuaries Program: The Office of Water, in collaboration 

with EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) has funded 37 projects with 23 National 

Estuary Programs (NEPs) in six EPA Regions through the Climate Ready Estuaries

Program. In 2012, the program completed the first Climate Ready Water Utilities pilot 

project, held a lessons learned workshop with NEPs in EPA Region 1, held a joint 

stakeholder meeting with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

and promoted Fall 2011 king tide sea level rise education campaigns with 10 NEPs. In 

addition, two NEPs collaborated with EPA’s Office of Research and Development to pilot 

test an expert elicitation approach to address climate change vulnerability assessments. 

In 2013, the Office of Water will continue to work with OAR to help National Estuary 

Programs respond to a changing climate. 

 Collaboration on Evaluation: The Office of Water has undertaken a measurement and 

evaluation project through EPA’s Office of Policy’s Evaluation Support Division to guide 

implementation of National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change 

(2012 Strategy). The purpose of this project is to:

• develop a robust performance measurement approach for the 2012 Strategy; and

• identify lessons learned from the 2008 Strategy that can inform implementation of 

the new strategy.

The Office of Water views measurement in general, and this project specifically, as 

critical for the long-term success of the 2012 Strategy.

 Collaboration on Climate and Water Research: The Office of Water has a longstanding 

collaboration with the Office of Research and Development (ORD) to ensure that climate 

change issues are addressed to the extent possible in water research supported by the 

Agency. In 2013, the Office of Water and ORD will begin quarterly meetings to review 

progress and set directions for research related to climate change and water and will 

organize research projects from different parts of ORD according to the specific goals 

identified in the 2012 Strategy. 
Page 25

Potential future collaborations with other EPA Offices include:

 Collaboration on Enforcement Issues: The Office of Water is interested in working with 

the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance to identify opportunities to 

recognize the impacts of a changing climate on water resources in the context of 

compliance and enforcement activities and actions through the use of green 

infrastructure, climate resilient approaches, and other measures. 

 Collaboration on Storm Surge Screening Criteria: The Office of Water is working with 

Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 to begin development of initial screening criteria that could be 

used to identify water and wastewater facilities that may be at risk is inundation as a 

result of a storm surge event comparable to that generated by Hurricane Sandy. 
Page 26

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APPENDICES
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Page 29

Appendix 1: 

SUPPORTING ACTIONS AND 2012 BASELINE ASSESSMENTS/SCORES

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions (SA)

2012 

Development 

Phase / Score

Infrastructure: In the face of a changing climate, resilient and adaptable drinking water, wastewater 

and stormwater utilities (water sector) ensure clean and safe water to protect the nation’s public 

health and environment by making smart investment decisions to improve the sustainability of their 

infrastructure and operations and the communities they serve, while reducing greenhouse gas 

emissions through greater energy efficiency. 

Goal 1: 

Build the body 

of information 

and tools 

needed to 

incorporate 

climate change 

into planning 

and decision 

making.

SA1: Improve access to vetted climate and hydrological science, 

modeling, and assessment tools through the Climate Ready Water 

Utilities program.

Phase:

Response 

Development

Score: 

3

SA2: Assist wastewater and water utilities to reduce greenhouse 

gas emissions and increase long-term sustainability with a 

combination of energy efficiency, co-generation, and increased use 

of renewable energy resources.

SA3: Work with the states and public water systems, particularly 

small water systems, to identify and plan for climate change 

challenges to drinking water safety and to assist in meeting health 

based drinking water standards.

SA4: Promote sustainable design approaches to provide for the 

long-term sustainability of infrastructure and operations.

Goal 2: 

Support IWRM 

to sustainably 

manage water 

resources.

SA5: Understand and promote through technical assistance the 

use of water supply management strategies.

Phase:

Assessment

Score: 

2

SA6: Evaluate and provide technical assistance on the use of water 

demand management strategies.

SA7: Increase cross-sector knowledge of water supply climate 

challenges and develop watershed specific information to inform 

decision making.
Page 30

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions

2012 

Development 

Phase / Score

Watersheds & Wetlands: Watersheds are protected, maintained and restored to ensure climate 

resilience and to preserve the social and economic benefits they provide; and the nation’s wetlands 

are maintained and improved using integrated approaches that recognize their inherent value as well 

as their role in reducing the impacts of climate change.

Goal 3: 

Identify, protect, 

and maintain a 

network of 

healthy 

watersheds and 

supportive 

habitat corridor 

networks. 

SA8: Develop a national framework and support efforts to 

protect remaining healthy watersheds and aquatic ecosystems.

Phase:

Response 

Development

Score:

3

SA9: Collaborate with partners on terrestrial ecosystems and 

hydrology so that effects on water quality and aquatic 

ecosystems are considered.

SA10: Integrate protection of healthy watersheds throughout the 

National Water Program (NWP) core programs. 

SA11: Increase public awareness of the role and importance of 

healthy watersheds in reducing the impacts of climate change. 

Goal 4: 

Incorporate 

climate resilience 

into watershed 

restoration and 

floodplain 

management.

SA12: Consider a means of accounting for climate change in EPA 

funded and other watershed restoration projects.

Phase:

Response 

Development

Score:

3

SA13: Work with federal, state, interstate, tribal, and local 

partners to protect and restore the natural resources and 

functions of riverine and coastal floodplains as a means of 

building resiliency and protecting water quality.

Goal 5: 

Watershed 

protection 

practices 

incorporate 

Source Water 

Protection to 

protect drinking 

water supplies.

SA14: Encourage states to update their source water 

delineations, assessments or protection plans to address 

anticipated climate change impacts.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA15: Continue to support collaborative efforts to increase state 

and local awareness of source water protection needs and 

opportunities, and encourage inclusion of source water 

protection areas in local climate change adaptation initiatives.
Page 31

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions

2012 Baseline 

Assessment

Watersheds & Wetlands (continued)

Goal 6: 

Incorporate 

climate change 

considerations 

into the CWA 404 

regulatory 

program as they 

relate to permit 

reviews and 

compensatory 

mitigation.

SA16: Consider the effects of climate change, as appropriate, 

when making significant degradation determinations in the CWA 

Section 404 wetlands permitting and enforcement program Phase: 

Initiation

Score:

1

SA17: Evaluate, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, how wetland and stream compensation projects could 

be selected, designed, and sited to aid in reducing the effects of 

climate change.

Goal 7: 

Improve baseline 

information on 

wetland extent, 

condition and 

performance to 

inform effective 

adaptation to 

climate change.

SA18: Expand wetland mapping by supporting wetland mapping 

coalitions and training on use of the new federal Wetland 

Mapping Standard. Phase: 

Initiation

Score:

1

SA19: Produce a statistically valid, ecological condition 

assessment of the nation’s wetlands.

SA20: Work with partners and stakeholders to develop 

information and tools to support long term planning and priority 

setting for wetland restoration projects.
Page 32

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions

2012 Baseline 

Assessment

Coastal and Ocean Waters: Adverse effects of climate change and unintended adverse consequences 

of responses to climate change have been successfully prevented or reduced in the ocean and coastal 

environment. Federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, organizations, and institutions are working 

cooperatively; and information necessary to integrate climate change considerations into ocean and 

coastal management is produced, readily available, and used.

Goal 8: 

Collaborate to 

ensure 

information and 

methodologies 

for ocean and 

coastal areas are 

collected, 

produced, 

analyzed, and 

easily available.

SA21: Collaborate to ensure that synergy occurs, lessons learned 

are transferred, federal efforts effectively help local communities, 

and efforts are not duplicative or at cross-purposes.

Phase: 

Response 

Development

Score:

3

SA22: Work within EPA and with the U.S. Global Change Research 

Program and other federal, tribal, and state agencies to collect, 

produce, analyze, and format knowledge and information needed 

to protect ocean and coastal areas and make it easily available.

Goal 9: 

EPA 

geographically 

targeted 

programs 

support and build 

networks of local, 

tribal, state, 

regional and 

federal 

collaborators to 

take effective 

adaptation 

measures for 

coastal and 

ocean 

environments.

SA23: Work with the NWP’s larger geographic programs to 

incorporate climate change considerations, focusing on both the 

natural and built environments.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA24: Address climate change adaptation and build stakeholder 

capacity when implementing NEP Comprehensive Conservation 

and Management Plans and through the Climate Ready Estuaries 

Program.

SA25: Conduct outreach and education, and provide technical 

assistance to state and local watershed organizations and 

communities to build adaptive capacity in coastal areas outside 

the NEP and Large Aquatic Ecosystem programs.
Page 33

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions

2012 Baseline 

Assessment

Coastal and Ocean Waters (continued)

Goal 10: 

Address climate 

driven 

environmental 

changes in 

coastal areas and 

ensure that 

mitigation and 

adaptation are 

conducted in an 

environmentally 

responsible 

manner.

SA26: Support coastal wastewater, stormwater, and drinking 

water infrastructure owners and operators in reducing climate 

risks and encourage adaptation in coastal areas.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA27: Support climate readiness of coastal communities, 

including hazard mitigation, pre-disaster planning, preparedness, 

and recovery efforts.

SA28: Support preparation and response planning for diverse 

impacts to coastal aquatic environments.

Goal 11: Ocean 

environments are 

protected by EPA 

programs that 

incorporate 

shifting 

environmental 

conditions, and 

other emerging 

threats.

SA29: Consider climate change impacts on marine water quality 

in NWP ocean management authorities, policies, and programs.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA30: Use available authorities and work with the Regional 

Ocean Organizations and other federal and state agencies 

through regional ocean groups and other networks so that 

offshore renewable energy production does not adversely affect 

the marine environment.

SA31: Support the evaluation of sub-seabed sequestration of CO2

and any proposals for ocean fertilization.

SA32: Participate in interagency development and 

implementation of federal strategies through the National Ocean 

Council (NOC) and the NOC Strategic Action Plans.
Page 34

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions

2012 Baseline 

Assessment

Water Quality: Our Nation’s surface water, drinking water, and ground water quality are protected, 

and the risks of climate change to human health and the environment are diminished, through a 

variety of adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Goal 12: 

Protect waters of 

the United States 

and promote 

management of 

sustainable 

surface water 

resources.

SA33: Encourage states and communities to incorporate climate 

change considerations into their water quality planning.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA34: Encourage green infrastructure and low-impact 

development to protect water quality and make watersheds 

more resilient.

SA35: Promote consideration of climate change impacts by 

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting 

authorities.

SA36: Encourage water quality authorities to consider climate 

change impacts when developing wasteload and load allocations 

in TMDLs where appropriate.

SA37: Identify and protect designated uses that are at risk from 

climate change impacts. 

SA38: Clarify how to re-evaluate aquatic life water quality criteria 

on more regular intervals; and develop information to assist 

states and tribes who are developing criteria that incorporate 

climate change considerations for hydrologic condition.

Goal 13: 

As the nation 

makes decisions 

to reduce its 

greenhouse gas 

emissions and 

develop 

alternative 

sources of energy 

and fuel, the 

NWP will work to 

protect water 

resources from 

unintended

adverse 

consequences.

SA39: Continue to provide perspective on the water resource 

implications of new energy technologies.

Phase: 

Initiation

Score:

1

SA40: Provide assistance to states and permittees to assure that 

geologic sequestration of CO2 is responsibly managed.

SA41: Continue to work with States to help them identify 

polluted waters, including those affected by biofuels production, 

and help them develop and implement Total Maximum Daily 

Loads (TMDLs) for those waters.

SA42: Provide informational materials for stakeholders to 

encourage the consideration of alternative sources of energy and 

fuels that are water efficient and maintain water quality.

SA43: As climate change affects the operation or placement of 

reservoirs, EPA will work with other federal agencies and EPA 

programs to understand the combined effects of climate change 

and hydropower on flows, water temperature, and water quality.
Page 35

Visions and 

Goals Strategic Actions

2012 Baseline 

Assessment

Water Quality (continued)

Goal 14: 

Collaborate to 

make 

hydrological and 

climate data and 

projections 

available.

SA44: Monitor climate change impacts to surface waters and 

ground water. Phase: 

Response 

Development

Score:

3

SA45: Collaborate with other federal agencies to develop new 

methods for use of updated precipitation, storm frequency, and 

observational streamflow data, as well as methods for evaluating 

projected changes in low flow conditions.

SA46: Enhance flow estimation using National Hydrography 

Dataset Plus (NHDPlus).

Working With Tribes: Tribes are able to preserve, adapt, and maintain the viability of their culture, 

traditions, natural resources, and economies in the face of a changing climate. 

Goal 15: 

Incorporate 

climate change 

considerations in 

the 

implementation 

of core programs, 

and collaborate 

with other EPA 

Offices and 

federal Agencies 

to work with 

tribes on climate 

change issues on 

a multi-media 

basis. 

SA47: Through formal consultation and other mechanisms, 

incorporate climate change as a key consideration in the revised 

NWP Tribal Strategy and subsequent implementation of CWA, 

SDWA, and other core programs.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA48: Incorporate adaptation into tribal funding mechanisms, 

and collaborate with other EPA and federal funding programs to 

support sustainability and adaptation in tribal communities.

Goal 16: 

Tribes have 

access to 

information on 

climate change 

for decision 

making.

SA49: Collaborate to explore and develop climate change 

science, information, and tools for tribes, and incorporate local 

knowledge.

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

SA50: Collaborate to develop communication materials relevant 

for tribal uses and tribal audiences. 
Page 36

Visions and Goals Strategic Actions

2012 Baseline 

Assessment

Cross-Cutting Program Support

Goal 17: 

Communication, 

Collaboration, 

and Training

SA51: Continue building the communication, collaboration, and 

training mechanisms needed to effectively increase adaptive 

capacity at the federal, tribal, state, and local levels.

Phase: 

Response 

Development

Score:

3

Goal 18: Tracking 

Progress And 

Measuring 

Outcomes

SA52: Adopt a phased approach to track programmatic progress 

towards Strategic Actions; achieve commitments reflected in the 

Agency Strategic Plan; work with the EPA workgroup to develop 

outcome measures. 

Phase: 

Response 

Development

Score:

3

Goal 19: Climate 

Change and 

Water Research 

Needs

SA53: Work with the EPA Office of Research and Development 

(ORD), other water science agencies, and the water research 

community to further define needs and develop research 

opportunities to deliver the information needed to support 

implementation of this 2012 Strategy, including providing the 

decision support tools needed by water resource managers. 

Phase: 

Assessment

Score:

2

Total Score:

42 of a possible 

133
Page 37

APPENDIX 2: 

National Water Program Climate Change Organizational Framework
Page 38

Appendix 3:

National Water Program Climate Change Workgroup 

Principal Members

Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water

Mike Muse

Curt Baranowski

Office of Science and Technology

Rachael Novak

Office of Wastewater Management 

Veronica Blette

Karen Metchis

Caitlin Gregg

Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds

Michael Craghan

Kathleen Kutschenreuter

Julie Reichert

Office of the Assistant Administrator for Water

Mike Shapiro

Jeff Peterson

Joel Corona 

Elana Goldstein

Ron Hoffer

David Bylsma

Regions

Region 1 -Mel Cote 

Region 2 - Alexandre Remnek

Region 3 - Joe Piotrowski 

Region 4 - Bob Howard 

Region 5 - Kate Balasa 

Region 6 - Jim Brown

Region 7 - Mary Mindrup

Region 8 - Mitra Jha

Region 9 - Suzanne Marr

Region 10 - Paula VanHaagen
Prepared by:

Office of Water

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

May 2013